In the ever-evolving landscape of procurement and resource management, partnerships hold incredible significance. This held true for a Mid-Atlantic State as they scrambled to find vendors during the pandemic. This success story isn't just about getting the job done; it's about how teamwork and adaptability can help you tackle even the trickiest challenges—let's take a closer look at what happened.
The Power of Partnership: Access to Supplies When You Need Them Most
The Challenge
When the challenge of getting hold of personal protective equipment (PPE) materials hit the state procurement team, they were frantically wracking their brains on how to secure these items when everyone else in the world needed them too.
The Solution
Having a 20+ year relationship with Rudolph’s (a dealer for EPIC Business Essentials), the acting Chief Procurement Officer (CPO) for the Office of State Procurement (OSP) called his representative to see if they had any advice on where to get the PPE supplies. The team at Rudolph’s worked with the OSP throughout the entire pandemic and kept them up to date on the latest supply chain issues and helped them find products that other organizations were struggling to procure.
The EPIC Business Essentials cooperative contract through OMNIA Partners helped streamline the procurement process and provided flexibility for procurement to quickly access needed products. This contract allowed the OSP to purchase PPE, which would not typically be covered under an office supplies agreement.
Being able to use a cooperative contract with an already trusted partner was a win, win for this procurement team.
The Value of Cooperative Purchasing
“For years we would put out our own RFP but as you know that can be very time-consuming. Cooperative contracts are already vetted and still allow us to add ‘custom items’ to a core list.” said the acting CPO. Utilizing a cooperative in the good and the bad times allows procurement teams to be more strategic in where they spend their time due to the time savings and flexibility the process gives them.
“Cooperatives are here to stay! I have been around for a long time and never would have thought they would but when you really dive into the advantages of the contracts, it’s a no brainer.” - Acting CPO
About EPIC Business Essentials
EPIC Business Essentials is here to offer you today's purchasing solution for all your supply needs including office products, janitorial, breakroom, furniture, promotional, technology, MRO and safety products. EPIC Business Essentials allows your organization to get what you need, save money, and support your local community - all at the same time! EPIC Business Essentials includes over 60 fully stocked warehouses across the nation and over 700 dealers, including many with diversity designations.
About OMNIA Partners
As your ally in the purchasing process, OMNIA Partners is dedicated to optimizing procurement for your organization. Our goal is to improve the way your organization identifies, evaluates, and procures what they need at the best value. With free membership, you'll gain full access to our portfolio of leading national supplier contracts, spend visibility, analytics, and subject matter experts to help you identify more strategic and efficient ways to procure. We are here to help you achieve your procurement goals while saving you time and money along the way.
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